Terminalia chebula — Tibet’s “king of medicines,” unknown in Poland?

Aim of the study: The global rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among priority bacterial pathogens represents a critical threat to public health, necessitating the development of alternative therapeutic strategies. Terminalia chebula Retz.

Results: The findings demonstrate that T. chebula extracts have antimicrobial activity in vitro, with ethanolic and methanolic extracts showing greater efficacy, particularly against multidrug-resistant strains of S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli. Notably, a few studies reported synergistic interactions between phytochemicals and conventional antibiotics, suggesting that these compounds may modify antibiotic resistance. Mechanistic findings suggest that metabolites such as chebulagic acid, chebulinic acid, and gallic acid contribute to antimicrobial activity by disrupting bacterial cell membranes, inhibiting biofilm formation, and interfering with resistance pathways. However, substantial differences in extraction methods and experimental designs limit comparisons between studies, highlighting the need for standardized protocols. Overall, the evidence supports the potential of T. chebula to modify resistance and act as an antibiotic adjuvant.

Aim of the study: Peripheral edema is a pathological condition caused by abnormal fluid accumulation in the interstitial space due to elevated vascular permeability and inflammation. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of Terminalia chebula fruit extract (TCE) in inflammation-induced peripheral edema and clarified its molecular mechanisms.

Results: TCE suppressed NF-κB and MAPK activation. In vivo, TCE reduced Evans blue extravasation by 41.6% and paw edema by 67.5%. Histology showed reduced dermal thickening and inflammatory infiltration, and serum TNF-α levels were lowered. TCE reduces peripheral edema by preserving endothelial barrier function and suppressing inflammatory signaling, supporting its potential as a therapeutic agent for inflammation-associated vascular dysfunction and edema.

Aim of the study: Terminalia chebula is a classical medicine for the treatment of lingering dysentery, and both raw and processed T. chebula can alleviate ulcerative colitis (UC). The therapeutic efficacy of T. chebula is enhanced after processing, but the mechanism by which processing improves this efficacy is still unknown. We investigated the medicinal effects of raw and processed T.

Results: Raw and processed T. chebula significantly improved general physical signs and colon inflammation symptoms and lowered DAI scores in UC rats. Both raw and processed T. chebula alleviated imbalances in the intestinal flora of UC rats, increasing beneficial bacteria, including Lactobacillus and Romboutsia. However, the effect of processed T. chebula was more pronounced. In addition, SCFA levels in rats with DSS-induced UC were restored after treatment, and processed T. chebula had a greater regulatory effect than raw T. chebula. Fecal untargeted metabolomics analysis identified differential metabolites such as lipids and amino acids. Processed T. chebula can improve UC by regulating purine metabolism and other pathways, and levels of the disrupted metabolites gradually approached those of the control group. Raw and processed T.

Aim of the study: To evaluate the anti-gout effects and mechanisms of Terminalia chebula Retz. in rats with gout.

Results: A total of 149 compounds, comprising 23 phenolic acids, 104 tannins, 5 flavonoids, 14 terpenoids, and three other compounds, were identified in Terminalia chebula Retz. extract using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In vivo pharmacodynamic experiments showed that Terminalia chebula Retz. extract significantly reduced serum uric acid levels, ankle swelling, and inflammatory factor levels in rats with gout. The extract also decreased serum xanthine oxidase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and diamine oxidase activity in the rats. Western blot and PCR experiments showed that treatment with Terminalia chebula Retz. extract lowered the mRNA and protein levels of urate transporter 1 and glucose transporter 9 in kidney tissue. An immunofluorescence experiment revealed that Terminalia chebula Retz.

Aim of the study: This study evaluated the effect of pretreatment with an ethanolic extract of Terminalia chebula fruit (TCE) on LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice. TCE doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight were administered for seven days before LPS exposure.

Results: It also decreased MDA content while increasing the antioxidant enzymes catalase and glutathione. Histopathology showed a moderate reduction in lung injury at 200 mg/kg body weight of TCE, with less neutrophil infiltration and better lung tissue structure. In addition, TCE administration significantly reduced the expression of iNOS and MMP-9. Thus, TCE pretreatment alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury by reducing inflammatory markers and oxidative stress.

Aim of the study: Chronic restraint stress induces cognitive abnormalities through changes in synapses and oxidant levels in the amygdala and hippocampus. Given the neuroprotective effects of Terminalia chebula fruit (Halileh) in different experimental models, this study aimed to determine whether Terminalia chebula can reduce behavioral, synaptic, and oxidative markers caused by chronic restraint stress in a rat model.

Results: The shuttle box test results showed that Terminalia chebula treatment had a strong positive effect on memory measures, including step-through latency (STL) and time spent in the dark room, compared with the stress group. Daily oral treatment with Terminalia chebula effectively prevented the loss of neural spine density in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the basolateral and central nuclei of the amygdala caused by chronic restraint stress, as shown by Golgi-Cox staining. In addition, the results indicate that Terminalia chebula significantly reduced TOS and increased TAC in the brain compared with the stress group. In conclusion, our results suggest that Terminalia chebula improved memory impairment and synaptic loss in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the basolateral and central nuclei of the amygdala caused by restraint stress by inhibiting oxidative damage.

Aim of the study: Terminalia chebula fruit is a medicinal plant rich in bioactive compounds that may have therapeutic benefits. This study aimed to determine the phytochemical profiles and lipid-lowering effects of water-based and methanol-based extracts of Terminalia chebula fruit in Wistar rats made hyperlipidemic by a high-fat diet.

Results: Atorvastatin treatment significantly improved lipid measures and served as a positive control. No substantial increase in HDL cholesterol levels was observed in the extract-treated groups. In conclusion, Terminalia chebula fruit extracts had considerable lipid-lowering effects, with the methanol extract more effective than the water-based extract. These effects may be due to the presence of polyphenols and flavonoids, supporting the potential use of Terminalia chebula as a natural treatment to control hyperlipidemia.

Aim of the study: The fruit of Terminalia chebula Retz. is one of the most widely used herbal medicines in traditional medicine formulas, including those for liver diseases. In a search for bioactive compounds with potential liver-protective activity, chebulinic acid (CA), a major chemical constituent of T. chebula fruit, showed strong activity. This study investigated the liver-protective activity and mechanisms of CA.

Results: Pretreatment with CA prevented t-BHP-induced damage in L-02 liver cells by blocking ROS production, reducing LDH levels, and increasing HO-1 and NQO1 expression through the MAPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway. In animal experiments, CA significantly protected mice from CCl4-induced liver injury, as shown by reduced ALT, AST, and MDA levels, increased SOD activity, improved liver tissue changes, and activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. CA was metabolized into chebulic acid isomers with DPPH radical-scavenging activity. In a transgenic zebrafish line with liver-specific expression of DsRed RFP, CA reduced the liver toxicity induced by 10 mM APAP. Experiments in cells and two animal models showed consistent results and provided a comprehensive account of CA’s liver-protective effects.

Aim of the study: Terminalia chebula (TC) is a medicinal plant with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that is widely used in Ayurveda and herbal products. However, the effects of oral TC supplements on the skin have not been studied.

Results: Cheek redness decreased by 2.2% after eight weeks, while cheek redness increased by 1.5% with placebo treatment (p < 0.05). Facial wrinkles decreased by 4.3% in the TC group and increased by 3.9% in the placebo group after eight weeks of supplementation (p < 0.05). TC supplementation reduces facial sebum and improves the appearance of wrinkles. Future studies should consider evaluating oral TC as an add-on treatment for acne vulgaris.

Aim of the study: Terminalia chebula (TC) is a deciduous tree whose extracts have shown effectiveness in treating photodamage, skin aging, and wounds. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind these benefits remain unclear. This study profiled skin expression responses to a standardized, tannin-rich TC fruit extract (Synastol® TC).

Results: Genome-wide expression responses to TC were opposite to those seen in cells exposed to oxidative stress, simulated sunlight UV radiation, and wounding, with increased expression of genes linked to water balance, skin barrier formation, blood vessel development, and circadian rhythms. TC also increased expression of extracellular matrix components, such as collagens (COL1A1, COL1A2) and proteoglycans (PRELP, OGN). In separate tests, TC inhibited MMP enzymes (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-12) and microbial activity (S. aureus, P. acnes). Unexpectedly, TC increased mRNA and protein levels of late keratinocyte (KC) differentiation markers (FLG, LOR), and expression responses in skin cultures broadly resembled those that occur during KC differentiation.